Rotary engine.



B. J. DAVIDSON.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.4,1910.

Patented Nov. 11, 1913.

2 SSHBETSBHEET l.

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ROBERT J. DAVIDSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 4, 1910.

Patented Nov. 1 t, 1913.

Serial No. 547,350.

To all whom it may concern: 4

Be it known that. I, Bur-Fur J. Dwmsox, citizen of the United States, residing at Chi cago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement. in Rotary Engines. of which the following is a full, clear, concise. and exact description, reference being had to the accmnpanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My intention rel ates to rotary engines and in its preferred form may be used as a mo tor, an air or gas compressor and a rotary vacuum pump. I will generally describe the cnginc of my invention when employed as a driving motor and will thereafter set. forth the manner in which it may be adapted to its alternate purposes.

The engine of my invention includes one or more cylimlershaving inclined individual axes of rotation, and while rotating about their individual axes also rotating bodily about a central axis which is desirably ertically disposed. The axis that desirably vertically disposed pertains to a tubular shaft formed in alincd sections, the lower one of which is stationary while the upper I one is rotatable, the bore of the sectional or composite shaft serving as a fluid duct. to which end the shaft is sealed where ltS sections abutto prevent passage of the fluid through the space or crack between tl ubutting ends of the shaft sections. The lower shaft section constitutes a bearing for the hub of a bracket that is provided at its portions more remote from the stationary shaft section with inclined bearings for the cylinders. tl'iese bearings being located in inclined alinemcnt with bearings for the upper ends of the cylinders that are carried by and bodily rotate with the upper or 'revolublc section of the aforesaid composite shaft. The supporting bracket is desirably pro vided with a hollow interior whichis in communication with the bore of the composite shaft and is also in communication with the interior of the cylinders, whereby fluid may pass to and from the engine cylinders while they are rotating about their individual axes and while they together rotate about the axis of the composilc shaft.

I will explain my invent-ion more fully by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred embodiments thereof, in which Figure l is a sectional elevation of an cngino constructed in accordance with he invention, one operating cylinder only, however, being shown, it being understood that others may be supplied. this figure also :llUWlllg the position of the liquid in the cylinder when the engine is in full operation by the nearly perpendicular dotted lines which mark about where its surfaces that are not in contact with its solid parts would be when the engine is traversing the position here shown; Fig. 2 is a view on line 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an exterior view of an engine cylinder entering into the CHIl.-'lil'l.l 3- tion of my invention: Fig. -l is a plan \iew of the engine cylinder supporting bracket, and the engine cylinders supported by the bracket together with parts in immediate association with the engine cylinders and supporting bracket. :1 part of the housing being omitted and certain parts of the engini structure being broken away in order that details of construction may be revealed: and Fig. {i is a view of a modified engine cylinder that may enter into the construction of my invention.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the ditferent figures.

The piping through which fluid finds passage between the engine cylinders and the exterior of the engine structure includes a portion that is preferably ertic: lly disposed and which is formed in a stationary section 1 and :1V rcroluble section :2 in alinement with section 1. A plurality of radiating pipe branches 3 extenll from the upper portion of the revoluble pipe section 2. the bores of the sections 2 and 3 communicating. The lower ends of the branches 3 join the annular pipe 4, the bores of the branches communicating with the bore of the annular pipe -11, the center of the annulus formed by the pipe -l being included within the axis of the composite tubular shaft or pipe 1, 2. The annulus r has a plurality of spokes a that are merged in a hub is surrounding and free to rotate upon the stationary composite tubular shaft section 1. ltladially projecting pipe sections 7, equal in number to the number of engine cylinders, are carried by the annular pipe at whose bore communicates with the bores of the pipe extensions 7. The outer ends of the pipe sections 7 are inturned. the axes of the inturned porticns of said pipe extensions 7 converging to a point located within the axis of the composite with a receiving space 1,

motor and admission ports r t 18 used as a pump or compressor.

tubular shaft 1, 2, the converging axes of the inturned portions of the pipe extensions 7 constituting the axes of the rotatin cylintiers of the engine. The free ends 0 the inturned portions of the pipe extensions 7 are enlarged so as to constitute bearings that receive the tubular extensions 8 of the engine cylinder structure, suitable stufling boxes 9 being employed to prevent the escape of fluid between the extensions 8 and their cylindrical seats in the free end portions of the pipe extensions 7 Fluid thus may find passage be tween the interiors of the engine cylinders and the exterior pipe 10 by way of the stationary pipe section 1 constituting a pipe continuation of the pipe section 10, the revoluble pipe section 2, in multiple through the bores of the branches 3, the annular pipe 4, in multiple through the pipe extensionsZ, and finally the hollow engine cylinder extensions 8. In order to prevent the escape of fluid through the crack at the abutting ends of the pipe sections 1 and 2, I provide a stufling box that includes a sleeve section 11 and two glands 12 intervening between the pipe sections land 2 and the tubular portion 11. The sleeve element 11 is in fixed relation with the stationary tubular shaft section 1 and carries upon its upper end a bevel gear 13 in fixed relation therewith, said bevel gear being'in mesh with a bevel gear 14 provided in connection with each engine cylinder with respect to which it is rigid and coaxial.

The upper end of the revoluble tubular shaft section 2 carries a pulley 15 or other means for enabling the transmission of power from the tubular shaft section 2 to the load that is to be operated by the engine when working as a motor or b which e er is applied to said tubular shart section the engine is to be used as a coin pump. The upper ends of the eng CjZlJl ders'are provided with extensions 16 are in axial alinement with the extensions 9, the extensions 16 being journalcd witl'i bearings 17 that are in oblique alinei with the bearings that a cylinder extensions 8, said. be fixed. with respect to the shaft section 2. The engine provided with ports 18 the icate housing 19. These ports haust ports when the e within the interior eat the housing communication with the exterior J 1 a pipe 20 which constitutes an exhaust that may, if desired, be led to a condenser when the engine is used as a motor which constitutes an admission pipe: for when the engine is to be used as a pump or compressor, in which case the engine cylin ders are rotated by power externally ap-- plied to the element 15 fixed with respect to the tubular shaft section 2. If the engine is used as a vacuum pump, the receiver is obviously attached to the pipe 20. The housing or dome 19 has a removable cap 21 by which access to the mechanism housed by the dome may be had. The dome 19 has an insetting flange 22 that rests upon an outsetting flange 23 of a base which seals the bottom of the dome, the insetting flange 22 and the outsetting flange 23 constituting a very convenient means for permitting of the assemblage of the dome and its base by means of threaded bolts. An outsetting flange 24 is also provided upon the base of the dome to enable said base to be readily secured to a suitable foundation. The central portion of the base has a conical part 25 which serves to direct water of condensation or other liquid from the tube 1 into an annular space 26' with which a draw ofi cock 27 communicates.

l have thus tar specifically described many novel features of a rotary engine construction which may be used in connection with engine cylinder mechanism of a variety of designs, and whilel prefer the novel en- .ine cylinder mechanism which I have illusl ted and will presently specifically desaibe, I do not wish to be limitedthereto n all embodiments of the invention.

Each engine cylinder mechanism which I is illustrated in the form of the invention s n in Figs. 1 to 4a inclusive includes an external jacket 28 in communication at one end with the corresponding extension 8 and at the other end with pipes 29 that are carried to the top of the engine cylinder with space 30 separated from the space jacketed by the jacket 28 by means of the cylindrical element 31. A spiral channel 32, formed by a spiral 33 having fluid tight connection with a surrounding casing 34, isin communication with the space 30 at its lower end and with the ports 18 at its upper end,- conical perforated screens or bafile plates 35 intervening between the ports 18 the-s iral passa ewa- 32. The s iral P g y P wall has; a bore 37 coaxial'with the spiral an extending along its length. Some suitable liquid, orsome' suitable materlal that may be turned into a. liquid, is inserted thin the space 30 and the communicating passageway to a suitable level. As

thing that the engine'is operated as a mor, er-other expansive gas is assed irough the pipelO, the tubular sha t 1, 2, she multiply related branch pipes 3, the, annular pipe At, the multiply related'pipe extensions the tubular -,extensions 8, the space jacketed by the jacket 28-, the multiply related pipes 29, to the. space 30, ithence through the lower end ofthe spiral passageway 32, thereby cccasioning such movement naraaaa of the liquid within the spiral that the rate than of the structure terminating in the bear ing elements it and 16 results, the battle plates 35 reventing the egress of the liquid through t e ports 18 while permitting escape of the steam through said ports. As

the engine cylinder elements rotate about dll " in the spiral way,

7 when the entrance o their individual axes, the bevel. gears 14 are positively driven so as to rotate upon the bevel pinion 13 as a track, thereby forcing the bodily rotation of the engine cylinder elements about the axis of the composite tubular shaft 12, the section of the shaft 2 thereb being rotated to transmit power to the 10 d driving pulley or element 15. The liquid finds a ready return through the bore 37 from the spiral passage. if the engine is to be used as a compressor or air pump, the shaft 2 is driven by torque applied at 15 in a direction reverse to that in which it is driven when the engine is employed as a motor. Vent cocks 38 may be rovided in communication with the space yaclreted by the jacket 28 in order that the air displaced by the steam within said jacket-l ng s ace may readily find exit. in the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 5, the jacket 28 is omitted, the pipes 29 being in direct communication with the tubular extension 8 instead of by way of a jacketed space.

Each spiral passageway is increased in size salt-approaches the top so as to provide for steam expansion to enable the steam to be ed'ective in the varying volumes it occupies. 'l he en ine, when working as a motor, is adapts to worhon separate portions of the gas or steam in the spiral way,

' which portions are of varying volumes.

- Cons dering the engine as. operating as a motor, the higher the s eed, the greater the centrifugal force upon t e liquid. As a consequence, aseries of steam traps is adorded one in the bottom of each convolution of the spiral, and-the steam in these traps ascends toward the composite tubular shaft 1, 2, and-expands as it ascends owin to the decreasing pressure of the liquid t erenpon, rotation ofthe spiral upon its axis resultin whereby the gear It is rotated to trave around the track 13. it. fresh supply of steam is admitted to the spiral way upon each revolution of the spiral way, t is re lenishrnent occurring :the spiral way is unsealed, that is, is brought in the neighbor hood of its lowermost position where the liquid isabsent owing to the. centrifugal action thereupon, supp emented by the pressure of live steam or gas upon the liquid within thespace 180. The spiral wall that defines the s iral way is deeply "inclined so as to afiord arger trappin spaces-for the steam orother expansive aid than would be present if this spiral wall were more perpendicular to the axis of the spiral. i if within the housing by means ing for the lower on cas'in e first casing, P y being Pm:

. ction at n der to reduce the retard-in. resistance of the air upon the rapidly rave ving parts within the housing 19, f maintain a partial vacuum of a condenser p the pipe 20, the action of the condenser being desirably supplemented by a vacuum pump.

While l have herein shown and particularly described the preferred embodiments of my invention, 1 do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction shown, as changes may readily be made Without departing from the spirit thereof, but

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent the following 7 v l. A rotary engine including a tubular shaft formed in abutting rotatin and non rotating sections; an engine e em'ent inclined with respect to said tubular shaft; a lower support rotatable about the axis of the tubular shaft and provided with a bearattached rncnt; a bearing for the upper end of said engine element carried by the rotatable section of the tubular shaft; a track about-the of said engine eleaxis of the tubular shaft in ear connection with the engine element; an means forfaffording passage for fluid throu h both sec tions of the tubular shaft and tween the same and the engine element.

2. ll rotary engine including a rotatable tubular shaft element; an engine elementin:

olined with respect to said tubular shaft elemerit; a lower support rotatable about theaais of'the tubular shaft elementand pro sided with a bearing for the lower endof said engine element; a bearing for the upper end of said engineelement'carried byes-1d tabular shaft element; a track about the aais of the tuularshaft element and "in gear 3 connection with the engine element; o s; n1

means for affording passage for through the bore of said tubular shaft element and between the same and the lower end of the engine element.

3. an engine including a casing; a second with a space intervening between it and t I aided within the second-casi incommunycation at one end with the space intervening tit between the two casings and at the other'end with the eaterior of the casings; liquid with in the two casings; and means for effecting passage of fluid .tween the space between.

the two casings and the exterior of the engins, the spiral wall within the inner casing the peritting communication between the oentral portion of this casing and the peripheral portions ofthis-casing.

. ass engine includinga casing; a second set easing with a space intervening between it and it @lfilfiliflfllfilllg, a spiral way being pro aided within the second casing in communia c with the space intervening its the

between the two casings and the exterior of the engine, the spiral wall within the inner casing being discontinued at the central portion of the inner casing, thereby affording a longitudinal channel through the inner casing with which the spiral way is in communication.

5. An engine including a casing; a second casin with a space intervening between it and the first casing, an inclined spiral way being provided within the second casing in communication at one end with the space intervening between the two casings and at the other end with the exterior of the casings; liquid within the two casings; and means for effecting passage of fluid between the space between the two casings and the ex terior of the engine, the spiral wall within the inner casing permitting communication between the central portion of this casing and the peripheral portions of this casing.

6. An engine including a casing; a second casing with aspace intervening between it and the first casing, an inclined spiral way being provided within the second casing in communication at one end with the space intervening between the two casings and at the other end with the exterior of the easings; liquid within the two" casings; and means for efiecting passage ot'fluid between the space between the two casings and the exterior of the engine, the spiral wall within the inner casing being discontinued at the central portion of the inner casing, thereby affording a longitudinal channel through the inner casing with which the spiral way is in communication.

7. An engine including a casing; a second casing with a space intervening between it and the first casing, an inclined spiral way being provided within the second casing in communication at one end with the space intervening between the two casings andat the other end with the exterior of the casings; liquid within the two casings; means for eflecting passage of fluid between the space between the two casings and the exterior of the engine, the spiral wall within the inner casing permitting communication between the central portion of this casing and the peripheral portions of this casing; and means whereby said casings and the inclosed spiral way are caused bodily to move about an axis with respect to which said spiral way is inclined.

8. An engine including a casing; a second casing with a space intervening between itand the first casing, an inclined spiral way being provided within the second casing in communication at one end with the space intervening between the two casings and at the other end with the exterior of the casings; liquid within the two casings; means for eilecting passage of fluid between the space betwcen the two casings and the exterior of the engine, the spiral wall within the inner casing being discontinued at the central portion of the inner casin thereby affording a longitudinal channel through the inner casing with which the spiral way is in communication; and means whereby said casings and the inclosed spiral way are caused bodily to move about an axis with respect to which said spiral way is inclined.

9. An engine consisting of an inverted conical spiral wall, attached by a fluid tight juncture to the inside of an inner casing and thereby defining a spiral way between the successive convolutions thereof, said inner casing being open atboth ends, and fastened securely within a bearing outer casing member and under a bearing cover 1nemher, a space intervening between the two casings, said space connnunicating through a swivel jointed passage with the fluid exterior of the engine and with the end of the spiral way nearest the bottom of the outer casing, the other end of said spiral way communicating through the space under the cover to the exhaust, a liquid contained in and partly filling the space between the two casings and in the spiral way and adapted to he so disposed therein by gravity and the inclined position of the axis of the engine and the pressure of the expansive fluid as to cause said engine to rotate on its axis by the action upon said spiral wall of said expansive fluid in passing successively through said space and spiral way and the liquid therein contained, substantially as described.

10. An engine consisting of an inverted conical spiral wall, attached by a fluid tight juncture to the inside of an inner casing and thereby defining a spiral way between the successive convolutions thereof, said inner casing being open at both ends and fastened securely within a bearing outer casing mem her, and under a bearing cover member, a space intervening between the two casings, said space communicating through a swivel jointed passage with the exterior of the engine and with the end of the spiral way nearest the bottom of the outer casing, the other end of said spiral way communicating through the space under the cover to the exhaust, a liquid contained in and partly filling the space between the two casings and in the spiral way, means for revolving the engine around another axis to which the axis of the engine is inclined to generate centrifugal force in the liquid, and means whereby the rotation of the engine causes said revolution of the engine; substantially as described.

11. An engine consisting or! an inverted conical spiral wall, of two or more convolutions attached by a fluid tight juncture to the inside of an inner casing and thereby defining a spiral way of one or more convolutions between the successive convolutions of said spiral wall, said inner casing being open at both ends, and fastened securely within a bearing outer-casing member and under a bearing cover member,-a space intervening between the" two casings, said space com Inunicating through a swivel jointed passage with the exterior of the engine, and with the end of the spiral way, nearest the bottom of the outer casing, the other end of said, spiral way Communicating through the space under the cover to the exhaust, a liquid contained iii) in and partlyfilling the space betwecnthe two casings and in the spiralway and adapted to be so disposed therein by gravity and the inclined positing t a a is a th n: gine and the pressure of t e expansive fluid as to cause said engine to rotate on its. axis by the action u on said spiral wall of said the inside of an inner casing and thereby dehill " juncture to the inside of an 1n fining a spiral way of one or more convoluw tions between the successive convolutions of said spiral wall, said inner casing being open at both ends, and fastened securely within a bearing outer casing member and under a bearing cover member, a space intervening between the two casings, said space communicating through a swivel jointed passage with the exterior of the engine andwith the end of the spiral way nearest the bottom of the outer casing, the other end of said spiral way communicating through the space under the cover to the exhaust, a liquid contained in and partly filling the space between the two casings and in the spiral way, means for revolving the engine around another axis to which the axis of the engine is inclined to generate centrifugal force in said liquid, andineans whereby said rotation of said en ine causes said revolution of said engine; su stantially as'described.

13. An en ine consisting of an inverted conical spira wall, attached by a fluid tight ner casing and thereby definin a spiral way between the successive convo utions thereof, an axial hole through the successive convolutions of said spiral wall, said inner casing being open at both ends, and fastened securely within a bearing outer casing member and under a bearing cover member, a space intervening between the two casings, said space communicating through .a swivel jomted pas hree 11 spiral wall,

spiral wall of said expansive fluid in pass v ing successively through said space and spiral way and the liquid therein cmitained',

substantially as described.

An engine consisting of an inverted conical spiral wall attached by a; iiuidtight j unctuue to the'inside of an inner cas ng and thereby definin' a spiral way between the swanse vent n a est-t at areal hPl said inner casing being open at both ends, and fastened securely within av bearing outer casing member, and under a bearing cover member, a space intervening between Inunicating through a swivel jointed passa e with the exterior of the engine and with t e endof the spiral way nearest the bottom of the outer casing, the other end of said spiral way communicating through the space un er the cover to the exhaust, a liquid contained in and partly filling the space between the two casings and in the spiral way, means for revolving the engine around another axis to which the axis of the engine is inclined to generate centrifugal force in said liquid and means whereby said rotation of said engine causes said revolution of said engine; substantially as described.

15. An engine consisting of an inverted conical spiral wall, of two or more convolutions attached bya fluid tight juncture to the inside of an inner casing and thereby defining a spiral wav of one or more convolutions between t e successive convolutions of said spiral wall, an axial hole through the successive convolutions of said spiral wall, said inner casing being open at both ends, and fastened s1!- curely within a bearing outer casing member and under a bearing cover member, a jointed passagie with the exterior of the en: gine, and wit the end of the spiral way nearest the bottom of the outer casing, the other end of said spiral Wav communicating through the space under the cover to the exhaust, a liquid contained in and partly filling the space between the two casings and in the spiral way and adapted to be so disposed therein by gravity and the inclined position of the axis of the en inc and the pressure of the expansive flui as to cause said engine to rotate on its axis by the acthe successive convolutions of said a the two casings, said space conilOO tion upon said spiral wall of said expansive fluid in passin successively through said space and spira way and the liquid therein contained, substantially as described.

16. An engine consisting of an inverted conical spiral Wall, of two or more convolutions attached by a fluid tight juncture to the inside of an inner casing and thereby defining a spiral way of one or more convolutions between the successive convolutions of said spiral wall, an axial hole throughthe successive convolutions of said spiral wall, said inner casing being open at both ends, and fastened securely within a bearing outer casing member and under a bearing cover member, a space intervening between the two casings, said space communicating through a swivel jointed passage with the exterior to the engine, and

with the end of the spiral way nearest the bottom of the outer casing, the other end of said spiral way communicating through the space under the cover to the exhaust, a liquid contained in and partly filling the space between the two casings and the spiral way, means for revolving the en ine around another axis to which the axis 0% the engine is inclined to-gener'ate centrifugal force in said liquid and means whereby said rotation of said engine causes said revolution of said engine; substantially as described.

In wltnesswhereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this nineteenth day of February, A. D., 1910.

ROBERT J. DAVIDSON. Witnesses G. L. CRAGG, R. E. ATHERTON. 

